Introduction

Every year since 2009, the German International School Washington D.C. has applied and been approved for participation in the Maryland Dept. of Education (MSDE) Non-Public School Textbook Program every year since 2009. Under this program, textbooks in English are supplied to the GISW for students’ use on loan for the school year. Due to this program the DSW has been able to pass savings for textbook purchases, amounting to a total of approx. $100,000, on to parents.

Currently, textbooks for the subjects English (Elementary School and Upper School); History (DIA and High School) and Biology (DIA) are being provided to the students. Further details can be found in the description of the program. Applications for participation in the Nonpublic Student Textbook Program are assessed by the MSDE on a year-by-year basis. In order to be considered for participation in the program, the MSDE requires that the School maintains an inventory of all books and that lost or damaged books are paid for or replaced by students.

To fulfill these requirements, student and parent cooperation is essential. Responsibilities and obligations are outlined in the Agreement and Confirmation of Receipt - Elementary School and the Agreement and Confirmation of Receipt - Upper School which students and parents will have to sign prior to receiving an MSDE textbook.

The completed agreement needs to be turned in to the respective teacher (English, History, Biology) during the first week of school of a given school year.

The benefits of this program can only be achieved with the cooperation of students and parents, the efforts of the respective teachers and a parent-volunteer who coordinates the application, ordering and administrative process and the required inventory controls.